Teledermatology in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections: a Narrative Review

Overview

Journal Postepy Dermatol Alergol

Publisher Termedia

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2024 Mar 27

PMID 38533373

Authors

Julia Wozna

Jan Stepka

Andrzej Baloniak

Ryszard Zaba

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Teledermatology is a dynamically developing field of medicine with the potential to significantly impact the future functioning of the healthcare system, including the prevention, diagnostics, and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). While its implementation has resolved numerous issues associated with the traditional patient management model for STIs, the risk associated with handling sensitive patient data in a virtual space must not be overlooked. This article presents a literature review regarding the application of teledermatology in the diagnostics and treatment of STIs, with a particular focus on addressing relevant problems, potential obstacles, and examining the impact of the COVID-19 global epidemic on the development of this field.

References

Pak H . Teledermatology and teledermatopathology. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2002; 21(3):179-89. DOI: 10.1053/sder.2002.34945. View

Ronn M, Grath-Lone L, Davies B, Wilson J, Ward H . Evaluation of the performance of nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) in detection of chlamydia and gonorrhoea infection in vaginal specimens relative to patient infection status: a systematic review. BMJ Open. 2019; 9(1):e022510. PMC: 6340625. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022510. View

Curtis M, Clingan S, Guo H, Zhu Y, Mooney L, Hser Y . Disparities in digital access among American rural and urban households and implications for telemedicine-based services. J Rural Health. 2021; 38(3):512-518. PMC: 9827725. DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12614. View

Burke Jr B, Hall R . Telemedicine: Pediatric Applications. Pediatrics. 2015; 136(1):e293-308. PMC: 5754191. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2015-1517. View

Richardson D, Maple K, Perry N, Ambler E, Jurd C, Fisher M . A pilot qualitative analysis of the psychosocial factors which drive young people to decline chlamydia testing in the UK: implications for health promotion and screening. Int J STD AIDS. 2010; 21(3):187-90. DOI: 10.1258/ijsa.2009.009053. View

Li Y, Zhang K . Using social media for telemedicine during the COVID-19 epidemic. Am J Emerg Med. 2020; 46:667-668. PMC: 7430246. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2020.08.007. View

Solomacha S, Sowa P, Kiszkiel L, Laskowski P, Alimowski M, Szczerbinski L . Patient's Perspective of Telemedicine in Poland-A Two-Year Pandemic Picture. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023; 20(1). PMC: 9819744. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010115. View

Aicken C, Fuller S, Sutcliffe L, Estcourt C, Gkatzidou V, Oakeshott P . Young people's perceptions of smartphone-enabled self-testing and online care for sexually transmitted infections: qualitative interview study. BMC Public Health. 2016; 16:974. PMC: 5022229. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3648-y. View

Garrett C, Hocking J, Chen M, Fairley C, Kirkman M . Young people's views on the potential use of telemedicine consultations for sexual health: results of a national survey. BMC Infect Dis. 2011; 11:285. PMC: 3213067. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-11-285. View

10.

McCree D, Beer L, Crim S, Kota K, Baugher A, Jeffries 4th W . Intersectional Discrimination in HIV Healthcare Settings Among Persons with Diagnosed HIV in the United States, Medical Monitoring Project, 2018-2019. AIDS Behav. 2023; 27(11):3623-3631. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04076-2. View

11.

Rabinowitz M, Kohn T, Ellimoottil C, Alam R, Liu J, Herati A . The Impact of Telemedicine on Sexual Medicine at a Major Academic Center During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Sex Med. 2021; 9(3):100366. PMC: 8240353. DOI: 10.1016/j.esxm.2021.100366. View

12.

Pope C, Stavrinos D, Fazeli P, Vance D . Transportation Barriers and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Sample of Middle-Aged and Older Adults Living with HIV in the Deep South. AIDS Behav. 2022; 26(7):2148-2158. PMC: 8783768. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-021-03560-x. View

13.

Okoroafor I, Chukwuneke F, Ifebunandu N, Onyeka T, Ekwueme C, Agwuna K . Telemedicine and biomedical care in Africa: Prospects and challenges. Niger J Clin Pract. 2016; 20(1):1-5. DOI: 10.4103/1119-3077.180065. View

14.

Neely A, Ponshunmugam A . A qualitative approach to examining health care access in rural South Africa. Soc Sci Med. 2019; 230:214-221. DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.04.025. View

15.

Hersh W, Helfand M, Wallace J, Kraemer D, Patterson P, Shapiro S . A systematic review of the efficacy of telemedicine for making diagnostic and management decisions. J Telemed Telecare. 2002; 8(4):197-209. DOI: 10.1258/135763302320272167. View

16.

Young J, Abdel-Massih R, Herchline T, McCurdy L, Moyer K, Scott J . Infectious Diseases Society of America Position Statement on Telehealth and Telemedicine as Applied to the Practice of Infectious Diseases. Clin Infect Dis. 2019; 68(9):1437-1443. DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciy907. View

17.

Shubber Z, Mills E, Nachega J, Vreeman R, Freitas M, Bock P . Patient-Reported Barriers to Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS Med. 2016; 13(11):e1002183. PMC: 5127502. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002183. View

18.

Cantor A, Dana T, Griffin J, Nelson H, Weeks C, Winthrop K . Screening for Chlamydial and Gonococcal Infections: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA. 2021; 326(10):957-966. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2021.10577. View

19.

Muessig K, Pike E, LeGrand S, Hightow-Weidman L . Mobile phone applications for the care and prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: a review. J Med Internet Res. 2013; 15(1):e1. PMC: 3636069. DOI: 10.2196/jmir.2301. View

20.

Siracusano S, Silvestri T, Casotto D . Sexually transmitted diseases: epidemiological and clinical aspects in adults. Urologia. 2014; 81(4):200-8. DOI: 10.5301/uro.5000101. View